Switzerland
\nAryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic overcame early tests to reach the US Open second round before the Grand Slam descended into chaos late on Sunday when Daniil Medvedev launched a tirade at the match umpire and fans disrupted his opponent\u2019s service game.
\nNew York\u2019s famously rowdy fans caused a six-minute delay by refusing to stop jeering and booing midway through Medvedev\u2019s 6-3 7-5 6-7(5) 0-6 6-4 defeat by Benjamin Bonzi on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
\nThe controversy began when a photographer entered the court prematurely after Bonzi missed his first serve on match point at 5-4 in the third set, prompting chair umpire Greg Allensworth to award the Frenchman another first serve for the disturbance.
\nAn incensed Medvedev exploded at the official and whipped up the crowd, preventing a rattled Bonzi from serving.
\nMedvedev, the 2021 champion at Flushing Meadows, fought off the match point and took the set in a tie break before bageling Bonzi in the fourth to set up a decider.
\nIt was not to be his day, however, as Bonzi composed himself to secure a dramatic win.
\n\u201cThe energy was wild. Thanks to all the ones booing. Thanks for the energy in the fifth,\u201d the Frenchman said.
\n\u201cIt was crazy match point in the third. A crazy scenario. I was exhausted in the fourth set. I gave what I had in the final set. That\u2019s a crazy win.\u201d
\nSunday start
\nUnder the tournament\u2019s new extended 15-day format, first-round singles action is being contested from Sunday to Tuesday rather than over two days as in previous years, spreading out the star attractions and allowing access for another 70,000-odd spectators.
\nWorld number one Sabalenka was among the marquee names on the opening day\u2019s schedule and the Belarusian fed off the vocal Arthur Ashe crowd to overcome determined Swiss Rebeka Masarova 7-5 6-1.
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t choose to play on Sunday, but if you win the match, it feels great. You have an extra day off, which can be good and bad. I\u2019ve got used to it. I like it,\u201d Sabalenka said.
\n\u201cBut it only works when you win the match. Imagine if you finish the tournament on Sunday. Then you can be a little bit frustrated with the scheduling.\u201d
\nNovak Djokovic has had plenty of time to recuperate after his run to the Wimbledon semi-finals but the Serb needed to find an extra gear to battle past Learner Tien 6-1 7-6(3) 6-2 as he launched his latest bid for a record 25th major title.
\nVictory in draining conditions under the lights made Djokovic the first player since the sport turned professional in 1968 to win 75 straight opening-round matches at Grand Slams.
\nAmericans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton enjoyed more straightforward wins.
\nLast year\u2019s finalist Fritz beat compatriot Emilio Nava 7-5 6-2 6-3 while 2023 semi-finalist Ben Shelton eased past Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse 6-3 6-2 6-4.
\nFourth seed Fritz and sixth seed Shelton have emerged as two of the brightest hopes to end a 22-year U.S. men\u2019s drought at their home major, as their women\u2019s counterparts have long carried the torch for American tennis.
\nDifferent feel
\nEmma Raducanu, the first qualifier to win the tournament four years ago, moved into the second round for the first time since hoisting the trophy when the Briton beat Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-1 6-2.
\n\u201cI did feel different coming into it this year,\u201d said Raducanu, who lost in the first round in 2022 and 2024.
\n\u201cI felt like I was doing the right things day to day, but still, it\u2019s in the back of your head. So I\u2019m just very pleased to have overcome that.\u201d
\nCanada\u2019s Leylah Fernandez, who lost to Raducanu in the final four years ago, defeated compatriot Rebecca Marino 6-2 6-1 while 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova saw off Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3 7-6(3).
\nFormer French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko made smooth progress with a 6-4 6-3 win over Chinese qualifier Wang Xiyu before last year\u2019s New York runner-up Jessica Pegula got past Mayar Sherif 6-0 6-4.
\nThere were a handful of surprises, as qualifier Janice Tjen earned Indonesia\u2019s first victory in a Grand Slam main draw in 22 years when she knocked out 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 4-6 6-4 to book a match-up with Raducanu.
\nAlexandra Eala of the Philippines got the crowd on their feet as she battled back from 1-5 in the deciding set to defeat Denmark\u2019s 14th seed Clara Tauson 6-3 2-6 7-6(11) at the Grandstand.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Switzerland Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic overcame early tests to reach the US Open second round before the Grand Slam descended into chaos late on Sunday when Daniil Medvedev launched a tirade at the match umpire and fans disrupted his opponent\u2019s service game. New York\u2019s famously rowdy fans caused a six-minute delay by refusing to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":499061,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-499031","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n